Chinese hackers accused of large-scale attack on US telecommunications networks

T-Mobile’s network was among the systems hacked as part of a large-scale Chinese cyber espionage operation. The operation affected many US and international telecommunications companies, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing its own sources.

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Hackers believed to be linked to Chinese intelligence breached T-Mobile’s network in a months-long operation aimed at espionage on telephone communications carried out by targets of value to intelligence agencies. The publication did not say when exactly the attack occurred. “T-Mobile is closely monitoring this industry-wide attack. At this time, T-Mobile’s systems and data have not been affected in any significant way, and we have no evidence that customer information has been tampered with,” a spokesperson for the carrier told Reuters. WSJ also does not have information whether any information belonging to the operator’s clients was stolen.

The FBI and the US cybersecurity agency CISA said that hackers linked to the Chinese authorities intercepted surveillance data intended for US law enforcement agencies by hacking into a number of telecommunications company systems. Chinese hackers also managed to gain access to the networks of U.S. broadband providers, including Verizon Communications, AT&T and Lumen Technologies, the WSJ reported in October, giving cybercriminals information from systems the government uses for court-authorized wiretapping. Official Beijing previously rejected accusations that the country’s authorities used the services of hackers to hack the computer systems of other states.